1996 Windstar Engine Light On

My 1996 Windstar (173,000Km) engine light came on today while I was driving. Shortly before it came on, I noticed that it started to idle hard and this evening when it was in in Park, it stalled on me. I can start it up again and drive on but it always idles hard and the amber light stays on. I'm planning to bring it in to the dealer tomorrow to have it checked out, but having read some of the testimonies on the net about bad diagnoses and bills that run in the thousands, I wander how I can guard against misdiagnoses and hope that someone has already gone through the same problem and can help me. Any takers?

Francois

Here in the US outside of California we can go to Autozone and they'll read the codes for free. Since you're in Canada I'm not sure if you have an option like that. Going rate for a dealer diagnostic check is around $80 but I think they sometimes waive it if you do the repair with them, you'd have to ask. If it was me and they were going to charge that I'd buy a cheap OBDII scanner/reader for that money so I knew what the code was ahead of time. I have an Actron, $98 from Advanced Auto that works well.

My 1996 Windstar (173,000Km) engine light came on today while I was driving. Shortly before it came on, I noticed that it started to idle hard and this evening when it was in in Park, it stalled on me. I can start it up again and drive on but it always idles hard and the amber light stays on. I'm planning to bring it in to the dealer tomorrow to have it checked out, but having read some of the testimonies on the net about bad diagnoses and bills that run in the thousands, I wander how I can guard against misdiagnoses and hope that someone has already gone through the same problem and can help me. Any takers?

Francois

A couple things.. My 96' Windstar has had that grrr.. light come on for almost 4 yrs intermittently and with the diagnosis at Ford.. they didn't worry about it. I was under load the first time it happened(6 months after purchasing unit new) ,pulling a trailer to Calgary from Manitoba.. dealer said bring it in. Diagnosis was either fuel cap slightly open after a refill ..which will send a low fuel pressure reading to the diagnostics and that was one explanation and the other was basically a load on the engine and to use a higher grade of fuel.. Wow what a brain storm! the light supposedly changes from red to amber to bright red and that third indicator is the one to have it brought in immediately..I know when I am pulling a trailer etc.. it will come on if I have it in OD. Taken some info from those occurences and have only on occasion for the light to come on! Good luck! argh..